Apparatus for conditioning fuel oil



y 10, 1956 P. J. VANDERLIP 2,753,928

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FUEL OIL Filed Feb. 26, 1953 Mw/v F/POM 50/4 5/? 75 [-2 72 OUTS/DE 0 30 FIEE. 33 Fl [5.5.

Firm? 722 50/; m INVENTOR A? 7 Refer 1 l anaer/q'o WWW ATTORNEY United States Patent Q APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING FUEL OIL Peter J. Vanderlip, Lansing, Mich.

Application February 26, 1953, Serial No. 338,966

3 Claims. (Cl. 15836.3)

This invention relates to apparatus for conditioning heavy grades of fuel oil for use in an oil burner by reducing their viscosity to a point affording proper utilization thereof in the atomizing means.

So-called residual fuel oils are preferred for their low cost but, in order to derive maximum efliciency therefrom, rotary type fuel oil burners have been found most suitable. Moreover, many installations are equipped with burners for the lighter grades of oil and, with increases in the purchase price of these oils, the consumer often changes over to the heavier, but cheaper, grades. However, there then arises the problem of reducing the viscosity of the heavier oil to correspond to that of the lighter fractions. Such end is most easily achieved by heating the oil in an intermediate supply tank inside the premises and, in nearly all such cases, electrical heating elements of the immersion type have been employed. However, the cost of electricity is often such that the price advantage of the heavier fuel is outweighed by the cost of the electricity consumed.

It will be recognized that other factors being equal, the cost of hot water or steam taken from the heating plant on the premises will be much less than purchased electric power. Accordingly, the principal object of my invention is to provide apparatus for reducing the viscosity of a fuel oil which will yield the intended end product both prior to, and during, operation of the boiler by utilizing electric power during the periods when the boiler is unable to provide fluid medium for the purpose, and by utilizing such medium when the same is available in suflicient volume.

Another object resides in the attainment of the foregoing desideratum by fully automatic means.

Still another object is to provide apparatus as aforesaid which includes means for circulating the preheated oil between the main storage tank and the intermediate or reserve tank to maintain continuously a proper fluid state of the incoming oil regardless of the low temperature to which an underground or remotely located storage tank may be subjected.

Further objects will appear from the following description which, together with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred mode of carrying the invention into practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a somewhat schematic side elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 shows an end view as seen from the right end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of a portion of Fig. 1 to illustrate the invention system as applied to a hot water boiler.

In general the invention contemplates the provision of the reserve or tempering tank intermediate the main supply and the burner, the reserve tank being equipped with an immrsion type of electric heater and pipes for circulation of hot water or steam, whereby electricity or the other medium may be used interchangeably for heating the oil in the reserve tank to reduce its viscosity 2,753,928 Patented July 10, 1956 to the point at which the burner may utilize the same efliciently. Automatic means are associated with the oilheating means in order that a source of electricity may be connected to the immersion heater when the boiler is cold, i. e. when insufficient hot water or steam is available, or for cold starts after long periods of shut down, and then, upon the availability of this latter medium, due to operation of the boiler for the necessary length of time, the electrical means is switched off automatically and the boiler is permitted to heat the oil. Additional means are provided for circulating heated oil back to the main supply to insure reasonably easy flow thereof to the reserve tank notwithstanding low ambient temperatures affecting the underground or remote storage tank or the lines therefrom.

Where, in the description and claims, reference is made to hot water or steam or to a hot water boiler or steam boiler, it will be understood that the terms are intended to contemplate not only steam or hot water boilers for heating purposes, but other types of boilers (for example, high pressure boilers). Moreover the words heating medium are intended in their broadest sense as comprehending not only steam and hot water but any other fluid or gaseous medium which may be used in a circulatory manner for heating. In the case of a steam system the return to the boiler will be understood as being condensate from a trap, and will correspond to the return side of a hot water system. Moreover, where reference is made to an underground or remote storage tank, it will be comprehended that any main storage tank is intended, the substance being that a source of heavy fuel is available for supplying the intermediate, or reserve, tank. Additionally, this disclosure is also to be construed as embracing the same apparatus and system employed directly with the main storage tank, and thereby, if desired, eliminating the intermediate tank. Certain considerations may make it feasible to pre-heat the oil in the main storage tank, and to use an intermediate tank simply to hold a supply of heated oil.

An important intended purpose of the reserve tank and its built-in allied apparatus is to maintain, condition and hold in reserve a suflicient quantity of residual oil in the boiler room for cold start-ups. The oil therein contained can be readily heated by the electric immersion heater, the burner then started and the boiler brought up to sufficient heat prior to starting the circulating oil pump, thereby eliminating the excessive use of electrical power, by conversion of oil heating media from electricity to the oil itself through steam or hot water drawn directly from the boiler, and in a minimum of time.

Turning to the drawing, a reserve tank 10 is shown as supported on four posts 11 upstanding from a sub-base 12 which may be, in turn, set on a conventional concrete foundation 13, or concrete floor near the burner-boiler unit in the boiler room which the invention apparatus is to serve.

Supported in a bushing or nipple 16 welded into one end of the tank 10 is an immersion type of electric heater 17, the junction box of the heater being indicated at 18. Conductors 19 feed from a control system to be referred to in detail hereinafter, and the source of current is indicated as leads 2323.

Also supported on tank 10, by means of a bushing 25 is a heater 26 which may comprise a hairpin-shaped, serpentine, or helicaily wound pipe coil, one end of which, say the feed, is indicated at 28 and the other end, the return, is indicated at 27. It will be understood that the tank 10 will, under normal operating conditions, be full of oil and further, that at no time, due to the elevation of the interior termination 9 of the pipe 30 feeding heated oil to the burner 31, will it be possible to use the oil below the termination 9; thus assuring a suliicient quantity of 3. n. ank. .0,- t. a annals. se er he. hearts. 7 n 26. The usual overflow from the burner 31 is returned to the tank through pipe. 32.

. 2hr hears uinea; he ma n t ra e. ank; sr ant d c eh a Bi gie. themeflws; rou h, filt r hutofflvefi: asl. i e 2-5- q: he n t nc f the e e tr c. mp scdr tea rump 38 A b an h 4 qcn ec stea hr eat alv .2, hi h. s. n. as. sq n e -1 o t e ine a and Ha tie tanne sa gt he; an t nd cosity of: the. incoming oil1or to thin. the. heavy. oil in.

hQbOttQIIl of the'main storage. tank, for example, when the storage tank is. subjected. to. a temperature substantially:below.- that for, which the; system is. designed. or the pour point of: the. oil is lower than. usual, such thinning.

oil; is preferablyintroduced from areservoir (not shown) throughline 53v andshut-otf valve. 54.1 From. this point.

itcarr beiorced; by the pump 38 through. line 41, three.- way; valve 42. (when. properly: positioned), line 47. and

supply line 33 to. the .endofi the suction .inlet at. theibottom. of the. storage; tank, with valve inclosed position. This.

system can also. be used to pump heated. oil from tank lit by closing. valve 54 and opening valve 55 for the purpose, of initiating proper oil flowt throughthe system.-

At.this-.point it will. be noted that the invention sys temcisprimarily adaptedzfor operation in: connection with aihot watertona stearnboiler. Thus the heatingmedium.

will be introduced; intotheheater 26 via asupply line 61,

andcwilhexit via aline.62. If steam is the heatingmedium a-trap. or vacuum. pump maybe. employedin a well known manner. Bywayof example a trap 6.3;is sh0Wn in-the return line 62. In thetcase of hot waterareturn-pump 601isused (Fig. 3). are conventional and therefore will not be further elaboratedmpom 'Fmtake care: of the overflow, there is shown at t Animmersion type thermostatisindicated at 66 to controlthe flow of hota return to the main supply tank.

watertor steam front the boiler through heater 26 in accordance: with the predetermined temperature setting for theoil in tank 10. Any-conventional instrument-may be employed,- for example, one containing a temperatureresponsive element in the form of a bi-metal strip, arranged to close and o pen a pair of contacts; Thermostat 66 may bedesignedforlowvoltage operation and its contacts are in circuit with a coil of a relay 70 whose armature. 71- coactswith a front contact 72 and a back contact 73. Thus when the relay is deenergi zed' (*cold condition ofithe; oil in the. tank 10-) a circuitis completed from-an A. C. supply over conductors 2323 for energizingthe-electrical-heating element 17; When the oilrea'ches the temperature at which thermostat 66- is responsive the relayoperates todiscon nect the element 17' from the supply and armature 71f completes the circuit through its back contact 73 from leads 23'23 over conductors 75 and 76 tothe valve 77 in the line 61 whereby steamis admitted tothe heater 26. In, the case of hot water operation the. leads 75 and 76 take part inthe same function butare, connected to thepump 60. Such alternative isillustrated in Fig 3 wherein. the said leads are indicated at 75a and 764;,

If desired; an, immersion type reverse-acting thermost t (notshown may;be. .1ocated,at.-the boiler, tUipIEcate: the r suction. created; lyfi. s filtfit" 34; and

In either event the arrangements L 4 vent the Water ulaw fr m. netatin unles water in the boiler is at the proper temperature.

The oil in tank 10 is continually heated by the automatically controlled electric heater 17 until hot water or steam is supplied by the burner-boiler unit, whereupon the heater 26 comes into play, thereby causing the electric heater 17 to cut off automatically and thus terminate consumption of electric power. As long as the burnerboiler unit provides the. heating medium, required, noclectric power is consumed by the heater 17..

During normal operation of the system, pump 38 operates continuously to. pump oil from the. main. storage tank through line 33, filter 34, valve 35. (opened) line 36, line 41, three-way valve 42 (properly positioned), line 46, into tank 10 where it is heated and discharged through line 65 back to the hot zone in the lower part of the main storage tank, except for the quantity extracted for use in the burner. Pump 3 8;is..designed for handling from-two tosthree times,- thexquantity of-;oil which is consumed by' the burner when, running, full capacity. Upon'shutdown of the heating plant the-,initial conditions of'theapparat-us are restored in, an apparent manner.

Assumingva; suflicient volume of oil in the tank 10 for; proper sta t ng. the; heater 17 will be switchedon manually in accordance. withv the start of. the heating period, this. operation. beingefiected through switch-80 and leads 2 3;. After a sufiicient time has elapsed to permitpreheatingof; the; oil in the-tank 10, W thereofto the burner-may-he initiated' through line 30. Additional control apparatus not: forming a part of the invention per se, are .pre ferably' arranged so that a. room thermostat; a pressure-responsive device, or a temperature-responsivedevice; acting; throughv a relay. (not shown), conditions the oilburner motor'for operation, and this motor-circuit will; also;in clu de a. second" contactor under the control ofthetemperatureiof theoil-in: the tank- 10; Thus, when both contactors in: the. oil burner motor circuit-areclosed, the burnermay. operate; Obviously-the viscosity ofrtheoikexiting fromthertank 10 will be afunction of its temperature; Accordingly, unless such-. temperature isv eifectiyeto'close, throughasuitable relay, the oil burner motor circuit, this circuit remains open,

Inthe'foregoing, Iihaveshown a particular'embodiment of rny;invention= in which it will be understood, of course, that I;do;not,wish.to,be limited thereto since manyrnodificatiqns may. be-made, andI therefore contemplateby the appended: claims. to cover any such modifications-asfall within the true spirit and scope of my invention. I

Having thus: described my invention, what I claim'and desire to secureby Letters Patent-is:

1:..In a system, including a main tank for receiving a supply of heavy fuel:oil having a viscosity toohigh for direct-utilizationin anoil? burner, an oil burner'and a boiler heated by said burner, means for lowering-thev-iscosityof the heavy-oilto. oil of viscosity-whichmay be; efiiciently utilized. by. the burnercomprising: a storage tank intermediate said main tank and burner, means fortransferring the. oil from the maintank to'said-intermediate tank, electrically-operatedmeans:operatively associated withisaidzintermediate tank for heating the-heavy oil to a lower viscosity for utilization by said burner, second heating means for the oil operatively associated Withtsaidintermediatettank andoperatedby fluid medium from the boiler, and means responsive uponthe; tem--- perature; ofrthesfluidtmediumreaching a predetermined value for automatically terminating operation of;' said electricallyroperatedl means and initiating operationof said; second; heating; means.

2; In a; system includinga maintank for receivinga supply ofeheavy-tuel' oil, having a viscosity too high-ion direct=utilization in an oil' burner, anoil burnenandia boilenheated bysaid burner, means for imparting-utilizableviscosity-to the oil as delivered to the burner, irrespective ofthe. viscosity of the oil in thernain tank comprising: a tank intermediatesaid: main tank.- andxsaidt burner, principal heating means for the oil incorporated with said intermediate tank and operated by the heating medium from the boiler during such time as the boiler is operating for reducing the viscosity of the oil to a utilizable level during such period as the boiler is operating normally, auxiliary heating means for the oil incorporated with said tank and operated by electricity, means operative in the absence of said heating medium for maintaining operation of said electrical heating means to reduce the viscosity of the oil in the intermediate tank to a utilizable level for direct delivery to the burner, and automatic means responsive upon the temperature of the heating medium reaching a predetermined value for initiating operation of the principal heating means and terminating operation of the electrical heating means.

3. In a system in accordance with claim 2 further characterized by a first conduit interconnecting said main and intermediate tank, and a second conduit connecting said intermediate tank to said first conduit and valve means selectively operable for injecting heated oil into said first conduit for reducing the viscosity of the oil flowing from the main tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Babcock and Wilcox Bulletin G20, copyright 1940. See page 21. (A copy is in Div. 19.) 

1. IN A SYSTEM INCLUDING A MAIN TANK FOR RECEIVING A SUPPLY OF HEAVY FUEL OIL HAVING A VISCOSITY TOO HIGH FOR DIRECT UTILIZATION IN AN OIL BURNER, AN OIL BURNER AND A BOILER HEATED BY SAID BURNER, MEANS FOR LOWERING THE VISCOSITY OF THE HEAVY OIL TO OIL OF VISCOSITY WHICH MAY BE EFFICIENTLY UTILIZED BY THE BURNER COMPRISING: A STORAGE TANK INTERMEDIATE SAID MAIN TANK AND BURNER, MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE OIL FROM THE MAIN TANK TO SAID INTERMEDIATE TANK, ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID INTERMEDIATE TANK FOR HEATING THE HEAVY OIL TO A LOWER VISCOSITY FOR UTILIZATION BY SAID BURNER, SECOND HEATING MEANS FOR THE OIL OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID INTERMEDIATE TANK AND OPERATED BY FLUID MEDIUM FROM THE BOILER, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE UPON THE TEMPERATURE OF THE FLUID MEDIUM REACHING A PREDETERMINED VALUE FOR AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATING OPERATIVE OF SAID ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MEANS AND INITIATING OPERATION OF SAID SECOND HEATING MEANS. 